Major League Baseball and the Players Association are engaged in negotiations for a new collective bargaining agreement set to expire at 11:59 p.m. ET on Dec. 1, 2026.
The two sides remain significantly divided on several issues. The most substantial disagreement centers on owners' push to implement a salary cap—a position the Players Association views as a non-starter. Owners argue that operating without a salary cap, unlike the NFL, NBA, and NHL, negatively affects franchise valuations.
Other sticking points include potential league expansion, an international draft, new roster rules, and a revised free agency deadline.
MLB's first collective bargaining agreement, covering 1968 and 1969, emerged from organizing efforts by Marvin Miller, the pioneering head of the Players Association. Miller transformed the union into an effective labor organization. From 1972 through 1994-95, every CBA negotiation resulted in either a players' strike or an owner-imposed lockout. The 1994 stoppage led to cancellation of the World Series.
A period of labor peace followed until the prior CBA negotiations, which concluded with a 99-day lockout by team owners that delayed the 2022 season. If a new agreement is not reached by Dec. 1, 2026, owners are expected to impose another lockout. Failure to agree by mid-March 2027 risks delaying or abbreviating the 2027 season.
